Spyderco Para Military 2 Folding Pocket Knife with 3.4" CPM S45VN Steel Blade and G-10 Handle - EDC Knife for Men and Women, Perfect for Hunting, Tactical, Camping, Survival - PlainEdge - C81GP2

little bossUnited States

Best knive ever!

I am a retiring police officer of 29 years… And for the first time in my life I’m calling my knife an EDC, before that I just called it my duty knife. I’ve researched survival knives, tactical knives , hunting knives and camping knives since high school. But for whatever reason I have not researched pocket knives very much at all. I’m not sure why other than I read all 24 Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs and some of them over and over as a kid and fell in love with full tang hunting knives. I I have carried a pocket knife my whole life… I don’t know the year but I know it was quite a while ago I was in a police supply store ( it was a once a week occurrence back then ) looking at the newest gear… That is when I came across a New Spyderco display case and gravitated to it. Honestly my first response was “Hey, what the hell are those”? I was handed an Endura and within about sixty seconds knew I had to have it. Spyderco has been my “ Duty Knife ever since. Btw why all the background... well when I read reviews, especially about things I’m gonna spend a little money on, I like the background of the person that’s giving the rating and I’m writing this for the like minded. Now that I’m going to have to retire due to on duty injuries I’ve had a lot of time on my hands and I have been researching pocket knives… knife steel...brands and EDC reviews written and on video for several months. I wanted to be open minded and not just look at Spyderco even though I love every one I own. I narrowed it down to three brands, Spyderco (of course), Benchmade and Zero Tolerance. I read more reviews than I can count and watched a buttload of videos. Spyderco won out as brand for several reasons...reviews about the quality of knife received, happiness with choice others have made and even the tone of voice used in head to head comparisons. Of course my experience with every Spyderco I have being flawless out of the box.... okay okay I have a little brand loyalty but I consider myself open minded which is how I switched to Spyderco in the firstplace. I wanted S30V steel above ALL others for its well rounded qualities. I narrowed my choices down to the Manix2, para2 and para 3. I ruled out para 3 because I like to carry tip up and the large lanyard hole ( which I Love) prevented tip up carry from riding low in the pocket as well as the fact I have ex large hands. I chose para 2 over Manix mostly due to personal prverence. I received the knife and inspected every square 1/64 th of an inch of it...as always...flawless. Very sharp out of the box. And to me...beautiful...but then I think Glocks are beautiful. I’m a function over form guy and I think high function is beautiful. I love the way the G2 scales feel. I love that my hand fits very well and the I can grip high for more detail cutting. If you wanna pry something get a prybar, if you wanna stab someone get a combat knive or better yet stab yourself. If you want to cut things over and over be able to depend on the knife I say get a Spyderco in the model that suites your needs. 10-7

KelUnited States

I didn't expect it to be as superior as it is.

The extra quality really is apparent. I used to think people who hyped up expensive knives and steels were just exaggerating, but the S45VN on this is amazing. I bought a Benchmade 550 in S30V at the same time for about the same price, and while I really like how that one feels in the hand and its a fine knife, the blade dulls disappointingly quickly, and I need to keep sharpening it. If it's a game it's a very convincing one. The Para 2 is harder to sharpen but it really just keeps that edge once you do. It really is a different class from any other knife I ever had. Only thing I would say is that I kind of wish I hit the 3 instead. There is a lot of handle on the 2, for he size of the blade, more than I really need, it seems like an unnecessary amount of handle. The 3 is probably more reasonable unless you have large hands. It's harder to open then the Benchmade, you need to adjust the pivot AND pin screws to get the right tension or it is stiffer than I like, and you need to use some blue loctite or risk loosing screws, which led me though a hell of a merry-go-round trying to replace them. Turns out that aftermarket screws don't all use the same threads, and they will fall out if you try to mix them. And the "titanium" screws cross threads extremely easily if you aren't very careful to back them until you feel the thread ends drop together. I gave probably bought 5 new sets of hardware by this point, hopefully now I have figured out all the pitfalls and won't need more. All in all for me I would rate the Para 2 as a bit worse than a Benchmade in ergonomics, and it's just a kind of strange way to assemble a knife, but the quality of the blade is clearly far better, so it's probably better overall. Some nice micarta grips will make it more enjoyable to use as well. Just watch out, the ones I got won't with with the stock clip screws, I needed to do substantial trimming to get the base area for the clip thin enough that the screws could reach the threads. Had none of these issues with the Benchmade. Although I do arm to recall the spring for the axial lock being a real $$%@ when I was trying to reassemble it. Anyway, I would say that if youare hesitating over dropping that much money on a knife, do it, it's worth it. Especially since the price seems to be much lower than it was. I am pretty sure I paid about $200 and it's not even $150 now.

wileypiesUnited States

An iconic pocket knife that absolutely lives up to the hype.

If you're thinking about buying a Spyderco Paramilitary 2, chances are you already know knives. The chances are excellent that you already own a few knives and know what you're looking at. I'm a spyderco nut. I have a half dozen or so with a few kershaws, S.O.G's and a Benchmade sprinkled in. The one that fought it's way to the top of my collection and the one that I just keep grabbing in the morning is the Native 5. I got it as a gift and it is a fantastic knife. It's the first one I've owned with the S35VN steel and it is definitely a hyped steel for a reason. It's been 6 months or so of moderate use and the factory edge is still flawless and I don't see myself needing to sharpen it any time soon. I said all of that to say this, as much as I adore that knife it's going to lose it's spot at the top to this Paramilitary 2. For one, I much prefer the G-10 to the FRN of the Native 5. It has a nicer feel, adds a little heft and just looks and feels like a superior material. Number two, I prefer the blade size and shape on the PM2. That's not really a fair knock on the Native 5 because if you're going to buy that knife then you go in knowing what it is you're purchasing. But for my tastes the PM2 blade shape and size and lack of serrations is what I prefer. I also prefer the way this one locks in to place and releases. Again, it just makes for a classier and beefier feel. Now of course the blade is absolutely sharp enough to shave my wife's legs right out of the box. That goes without saying, or should for any quality knife at this price point. And if you're looking at this knife, chances are you realize that it really is one of those iconic knives that has been around and earned it's reputation. This knife really lives up to the hype. I'm glad I bought it and truth be told I shouldn't have waited this long. If you have the spare cash (I got mine at 109.95 shipped + no taxes) do yourself a favor and jump on it. You won't regret it.

MichaelUnited States

Exceptional Quality, Reliability, and Performance – worth every dollar!

I couldn’t be happier with my Spyderco Para Military 2. The fit and finish are outstanding – everything feels solid, precise, and purpose-built. The blade is incredibly sharp right out of the box and holds its edge extremely well even with regular use. It slices cleanly and effortlessly, whether I’m opening packages, cutting rope, or handling everyday tasks. The CPM S45VN steel (on my version) strikes a great balance between edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. One of the standout features is the ergonomics. The handle feels natural and secure in hand, with excellent grip thanks to the textured G-10 scales. It’s lightweight for its size, yet still feels durable and confidence-inspiring. The compression lock is also a huge plus – smooth, strong, and easy to operate one-handed once you get used to it. The deployment is fast and reliable, thanks to the signature Spyderco round hole. It opens smoothly every time and locks up tight with zero blade play. You can tell this knife was designed with real-world use in mind. Another thing I appreciate is how versatile it is. It’s slim enough to carry comfortably every day, but robust enough to handle tougher tasks when needed. The pocket clip is secure and offers multiple carry options, which is a nice touch. Overall, the Para Military 2 absolutely lives up to the hype. If you’re looking for a high-quality, dependable folding knife that performs exceptionally well across the board, this is a fantastic choice. It’s not the cheapest option out there, but the performance and build quality make it well worth the investment. Highly recommend.